Tag



April 1964 w. M. BROOKS 3,130,509 Y TAG Filed April 18, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 43 6/ 5436 INVENTOR: .43

MNFRED M imam HTTOkA/f? April 28, 1964 w. M. BROOKS 3,130,509

- TAG Filed April 18, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 11 55 '1 Il/ INVENTOR. 92 404 M/VFAED M fi/ma/(s BY F :11. l l W A ril 28, 1964 w. M. BROOKS TAG s Sheets-Sheei :5

Filed April 18, 1962 Tic lE.

INVENTOR:

M/VFRED M fikoa/(s United States Patent Ofi ice ddwfidh Patented Apr. 28, 19%4 Filed Apr. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 188,345 9 Claims. (Cl. 40-21) This invention relates to tags and, more particularly, to tags which are attachable to some object by means of a cord, a wire or other shackle means, all being sometimes hereinafter referred to for convenience as a cord.

The principal objects of this invention are; to provide a tag which is inexpensive to manufacture, which may be applied quickly and easily to some object, which may be thus applied Without the aid of any tool, which may be disposed close to the object to which it is attached, and which may have provision for the application of printed matter or written memoranda thereto. Tags also may be provided under this invention for attachment upon a variety of articles.

The mentioned objects and other advantages arise from the provision, under this invention, of a tag of foldable material, e.g. paper or cardboard, having gummed areas which, when folded into face-to-face engagement, will firmly engage and hold a cord therebetween. The gum on the gumrned areas may advantageously be a self-adherent type which does not require added moistening.

in the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a tag, according to this invention, as attached to the handle of a fragmentarily illustrated piece of luggage.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of said tag as before being attached to the piece of luggage or other object.

FIG. 3 is a similar elevational view of said tag, illustrating a preferred manner of disposing the tags cord during application of the tag to an object.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 13 are elevational views of modified tags accordin" to this invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views of the tag of FIG. 7, showing, respectively, the tag as applied to an object and tearing of the tag when it is opened.

FIG. 12 is a view of a tag according to this invention as applied to a fragmentarily illustrated milk can; a tag according to FIG. 11 being particularly suitable for said purpose.

FIG. 14 is a view of a tag according to a further embodiment of this invention, the tag being shown as during the course or" its application to a cord for closing a bag.

FlG. 15 is a view illustrating the tag of 'FIG. 14 as completely attached to the cord of the bag.

Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tag 20, as manufactured, comprises a flat piece of suitable sheet material such as, e.g., heavy paper or thin cardboard, subdivided by a fold-guiding crease 22 into two substantially similar face sections 24 and 26, the inner faces of which :(those facing the viewer) are coated with a suitable adhesive 28, preferably one which has the property of being firmly adhesive to itself but having little or no adhesive property with reference to other materials.

A tab 39 of suitable sheet material such as, e.g., heavy paper or thin cardboard is suitably fastened, as by an eyelet 32, to face section 24. The location of the tab on said face section is not highly critical although, as hereinafter explained, there is some advantage in locating it quite close to the crease 22 as illustrated. As illustrated, the tab 39, also, is located above the center of the section 23. A cord 34, of suitable length, extends through the eyelet 32 and its ends are knotted as at 36. The corners of the sections 24 and 26, optionally, may be formed of oblique corner edges 38 to give a blunting effect to the corners of the tag in use. Also, optionally, the exposed face of the tab 3t may be coated with the mentioned adhesive 28.

In use of the tag 2%}, one end of the doubled cord 34 is passed within or through some part of the object to which the tag is to be attached. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the doubled cord is passed within a handle eye '49, preferably to the extent that the tag will be quite close thereto. Then the free end 34a of the doubled cord is brought to the adhesive-coated face of section 24 and disposed between said face section and the tab 39, and preferably between the eyelet 32 and the crease 22. With some advantage, the end portion 34a of the cord may be at least partly wound about the eyelet 32 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

After the indicated disposition of the cords end portion 34a, the section 26 is manually folded forwardly, along crease 22, and pressed upon section 24 so that the two said sections adhere firmly to each other with the cords end portion firmly captured and held therebetween. For many purposes, the cord 3d would be a fibrous cord and, although there would belittle or no adhesion of such cord to the adhesive, the slight tackiness of the adhesive would prevent slippage of the fibrous cord within the completely folded and applied tag. As hereinafter explained, wire may be used rather than a fibrous cord and other characteristics of the tag are effective to oppose dislodgment of either a fibrous cord or a Wire from between the sections 24 and 26.

The tag 41, illustrated in FIG. 4, differs from tag 29, of FIGS. 2 and 3 only in that face sections 24a and 25a are somewhat longer, and the latter face section is formed with a stub 42 defined by perforations or other type of lines of weakness 44 which render said stub readily separable from the remainder of the tag. As the tag is illustrated, the adhesive coating is not visible to the viewer, being at the far side faces of said sections. The stub 42 is not adhesive-coated and a corresponding lower area of section 24a is preferably free of adhesive so that the stub may easily be torn from the tag either before or after the latters application to some object. The stub and the section 24a may bear similar numbering or other indicia to enable the tag to be used for checking purposes in a well-understood manner.

The tag as, illustrated in 5, differs from tag 29 chiefly in that a single cord 43 is employed, rather than a double cord, and in that the tab 3%? is fastened to section 24 by a staple 50 rather than by being extended through an eyelet. An anchored or fixed end 48a of the cord is held firmly between a central portion of the tab 36 and the section 24, the opposed faces of which are preferably coated with adhesive of the character hereinbefore detailed.

Tag 46 may be used in the same manner already described with reference to tag 26*. As shown in FIG. 5, the free end 48b of the cord has been formed in a full turn or loop underneath the tab 39 rather than only in a half turn as in FIG. 3. Thus, FIGS. 3 and 5 should suflice to suggest that a user has considerable latitude in the manner of disposing the free end of a single or doubled cord or equivalent shackle element in relation to the tab 30 and the sections 24 and 25; the criterion in this connection being that substantial parts of the free end of the cord shall be captured between adhesive-coated surfaces.

Tag 52, illustrated in FIG. 6, differs from tag 2% chiefly in that cord 34 extends through a hole 54, preferably defined by an eyelet 5'6 in section 53, the cord being doubled and its ends knotted; and in that the tab 30 is fastened by an eyelet to the tags other section 62.

In this embodiment, the hole 54 and the tab 30 are adjacent to opposite, upper and lower edges of the sections 53 and 62, thereby inducing the user, subconsciously, to so dispose the free end of the doubled cord that a large portion of the cords length will be held firmly in contact with adhesive on the two sections 53 and 62 when the seal is in use.

Tag 64, illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, dfilers from tag 20 only in having one or more cuts 66 defining lips 68 in a section 7% of the tag, said lips normally being coplanar with said section. The free extremities of said lips preferably face away from the fold 22 and, although illustrated as dart-shaped, they may be of any shape which will enable them to function as hereinafter explained.

The application and closing of tag 64 is the same as with tag 24). However, if one were to attempt to open the tag with the hope of reusing it, the darts as would oppose and almost certainly defeat the attempt. Such an attempt would be in the nature of an effort to peel the sections 24 and "ill apart to release the cord. Edge portions of the latter sections could be peeled apart, but continued peeling would cause section 7% to tear because the cut or cuts 56 break the continuity of the latter section and enable the lips 68 and a fragmentary portion 70x of section 70 to remain adhered to section 24. The torn tag, of course, is not reusable; hence, if the tag is so applied to a closed container that the latter cannot be opened except upon removal of the tag, the tag serves as a protective sealing means for the container in addition to its function as a tag.

Tag 72, illustrated in FIG. 10, differs from the previously detailed tags chiefly in having a metal wire 74 instead of a cord as a shackle. One end 74a of the wire is fixedly held by an eyelet 75 which also secures a tab 30a to section 24 of the tag. In applying this tag, the free end portion 74b of the wire is bent around the eyelet 76, between the tab 39a and section 24 in much the same manner as the cord is applied in several previously described embodiments. The bend of the wire around the eyelet should preferably be quite tight, i.e. of the shortest possible radius, to oppose strongly any attempt to open the shackle by an endwise pull on the wire.

Optionally, lips 73 may be provided in section St to cause the latter to tear upon peeling open of the tag, in much the same manner as such tearing is caused in peeling open of tag 64. The showing of lips '78 as being rounded and in staggered relationship indicates that the manufacturer of tags such as, e.g., tags 64 and '72 has considerable latitude in the shape and disposition of such lips.

In tag 82, illustrated in FIG. 11, a length of wire has its fixed end secured to the same section 84 upon the infolding face of which a tab 32a is disposed. The wire, extended through an eyelet 86 adjacent to the upper edge of said section, is doubled and is twisted as at 83 to secure it to the tag, the doubled wire then constituting a Wire shackle 99. In application of the tag, the shackles free end portion 98a, is bent substantially and quite tightly about an eyelet 92 and underneath the tab 3th: which, by the latter eyelet, is secured on the section 84, preferably at a point quite remote from the top or side free edges of the latter section.

Illustrative of one of many possible uses of tags having a wire shackle according to this invention, FIG. 12 shows tag 82 applied to a milk can cover. In application, the wire shackle 9b is threaded through an opening 94 in the cover and through an opening 96 in a lug 96, welded or otherwise rigidly integrated with can body lllh. The wire is then brought into proper association with tab 3% and the tag is then closed in the manner previously described. It Will be appreciated that with considerable handling of the tagged milk can, a wire shackle is much less likely to be broken than a cord shackle.

Tag 1&2, illustrated in FIG. 13, differs from previously described tags, particularly tag 2%, chiefly in that tab ltld is formed with a notch 1% into which the end 1x28 of the shackle is disposed asshown before closing of the tag. The shackle may be folded or bent very sharply at the notch, so that the notch strongly opposes attempts at endwise withdrawal of the shackle. The exposed face of tab 104 should preferably be adhesive covered to provide a strong grip upon shackle end 108.

Lips 110, similar in purpose to lips 63 and 78, may optionally be provided in tag 162. They are shown as formed in tag section 112, the same section on which the tab 184 is disposed. The lips 116 may be of any suitable shape and disposition. They are illustrated as being rounded and disposed in relation to each other somewhat differently than in tags M and 72.

Aside from its general contour, tag lid, illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, differs from all other tags disclosed herein, in that the shackle with which it functions is not incorporated as a part of the tag by the tag manufacturer. Instead, the tag is attached to a cord or wire or to end portions of a cord or wire used, for example, to tie a parcel or bag.

The tag 114, illustrated as optionally circular in shape, differs particularly from tag 82 chiefly in having no shackle such as a wire or cord as an integral part thereof and no hole or other means enabling the manufacturer to attach such a shackle thereto. The tag has two relatively foldable, adhesive-coated, circular sections 116 and 118 and a tab 30a is suitably fastened, as by a staple 120, to the adhesive-coated face of the latter section. The exposed surface of said tab is preferably adhesive coated and the tab is sufiiciently smaller than section 118 to leave a substantial adhesive-coated marginal area 122 of the latter section clear of said tab to provide adequate adhesion-contact areas of the two sections 116 and 118.

In the drawing a cord 124 is shown as extending about the neck 126 of a bag, the cord being suitably tightened and preferably knotted as at 128. The tag 114 is applied over the cords two free ends 134) by placing its section 118 edgewisely against or very close to the knot 128 and winding the cord ends substantially about the staple 129, between section 118 and the tab 39a as illustrated in FIG. 14. Then, section 116 is folded into adhesive-face contact with section 118 and the two sections are pressed together to cause firm adhesion of section 116 with annular area 122 and with tab 30a if the latter has been adhesive coated. This leaves the seal fully applied as in FIG. 15.

It will be seen that tag 114, with suitable data thereon, may serve to identify the bag and/or its contents. It also serves as a protective seal because the cord could not be removed from and replaced upon the bag neck without so damaging the tag as to give clear evidence of tampering.

It is to be observed that it is advantageous, but not essential, that the tab 30 or its equivalent be close to the crease 22 or its equivalent, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. That arrangement does not offer the slightest obstacle to application of the cord ends about the tab, as shown in FIG. 3, for at that time the two sections 24 and 26 are substantially coplanar. However, when the tag is closed as in FIG. 1, the juncture of said sections, at the line of crease 22, forms an abutment, close to the tab 30, to oppose strongly any dislodgrnent of the shackle or of a related cord or wire from the creased tag.

Where wire is employed as a shackle, it should be capable of considerable bending without resultant breaking. Also, it should preferably strongly resist progressive bending of the character which occurs, for example, when a belt or rope passing around a pulley is caused to be given a bend which progresses along the length of the moving belt or rope. In the absence of such bend resistance, wire might possibly slide endwisely against contacting adhesive to an extent sufiicient to enable an interloper to slide the wire in one direction within the closed tag to loosen the tag and then slide it in the opposite direction to re-tighten the tag, all without separating the tags two adhering sections. Wire having the mentioned bend resistance and formed into a sharp or short radius turn within the tag, as hereinbefore described, could not be so slid to accomplish loosening and retightening of a tag according to this invention.

It will be understood that the concepts underlying these improvements may be utilized in various other ways without, however, departing from the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tag comprising:

a piece of sheet material bendable intermediately thereof, to fold opposing sections of said piece which are at opposite sides of a thus formed bend, into face-to-face relationship;

a flat tab of sheet material fixed flatly to one of said opposing sections and having a marginal portion freely overlying said one opposing section, and said marginal portion and an underlying portion of said one opposing section being relatively bendable to facilitate application of shackle means therebetween; and

an adhesive coating on one of said opposing sections covering a substantial area closely bordering the periphery of said tab when said sections are in said face-to-face relationship for causing the two said sections to cohere and to block the edges of said tab against displacement of shackle means from thereunder.

2. A tag according to claim 1, further including a flexible shackle, attached at a first position thereof, to said piece of bendable sheet material and having a second portion for disposition between said marginal portion of the tab and said underlying portion of said one opposing section, and additional portions, which, when the shackle is thus disposed, extend from underneath said marginal portion into engagement with said adhesive coating when said opposing sections are in such coherent relationship.

3. A tag according to claim 2, said tab being formed with a notch therein for reception of a portion of said shackle.

4. A tag according to claim 2, said first portion of the shackle being fixed to the tag at said tab.

5. A tag according to claim 1, said tab being closely adjacent to a line, at which said piece is thus bendable; said material, at said line, constituting a juncture of said opposing sections, and said juncture, when the tag is thus folded, serving as an abutment opposing lateral dislodgement of a shackle from under said tab.

6. A tag according to claim 2, said tab being formed with a notch therein for reception of a portion of said shackle, the tag being formed with a cut, defining a lip in one of said opposing sections, coplanar with the latter section and facing toward a free edge of the latter one of said opposing sections; said lip being located at a point more distant than said tab from said line, and tending to adhere to the opposite one of said opposing sections upon peeling apart of said sections to cause tearing of a portion of the tag.

7. A tag according to claim 1, further being formed with a cut, in one of said opposing sections, defining an adhesive-coated lip, coplanar with the latter section and facing toward a free edge of the latter one of said opposing sections; said lip tending to adhere to the opposite one of said opposing sections upon peeling apart of said sections to cause tearing of a portion of the tag.

8. A tag according to claim 7, the tag having a plurality of said lips in tandem formation.

9. A tag according to claim 7, the tag having a plurality of said lips in staggered formation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,704,940 Hartman Mar. 12, 1929 1,723,873 Lowy Aug. 6, 1929 2,926,440 Gilbert Mar. 1, 1960 3,077,684 Gwinn Feb. 19, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 786,257 France Aug. 30, 1935 Dedication 3,130,509.Winfmd M. Bq oolas, West Orange, NJ. TAG. Patent dated Apr. 28, 1964:. Dedication filed Feb. 9, 1972, by the assignee, E. J. Bwolcs Company.

Hereby dedicates to the Public the term thereof remaining after Oct. 1,

[Ofiicz'al Gazette July 25, 1972.] 

1. A TAG COMPRISING: A PIECE OF SHEET MATERIAL BENDABLE INTERMEDIATELY THEREOF, TO FOLD OPPOSING SECTIONS OF SAID PIECE WHICH ARE AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF A THUS FORMED BEND, INTO FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP; A FLAT TAB OF SHEET MATERIAL FIXED FLATLY TO ONE OF SAID OPPOSING SECTIONS AND HAVING A MARGINAL PORTION FREELY OVERLYING SAID ONE OPPOSING SECTION, AND SAID MARGINAL PORTION AND AN UNDERLYING PORTION OF SAID ONE OPPOSING SECTION BEING RELATIVELY BENDABLE TO FACILITATE APPLICATION OF SHACKLE MEANS THEREBETWEEN; AND AN ADHESIVE COATING ON ONE OF SAID OPPOSING SECTIONS COVERING A SUBSTANTIAL AREA CLOSELY BORDERING THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TAB WHEN SAID SECTIONS ARE IN SAID FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP FOR CAUSING THE TWO SAID SECTIONS TO COHERE AND TO BLOCK THE EDGES OF SAID TAB AGAINST DISPLACEMENT OF SHACKLE MEANS FROM THEREUNDER. 